– It is of course unsightly and unnecessary, but it also shows that there are people with normal feelings, says news’s football expert Carl-Erik Torp. It all arose after experienced Jan Vertonghen was unlucky to put the ball in his own net – just before the end. The own goal sent Belgium headlong out of the football European Championship. The expert noticed that there had been friction between the two players just before the goal. Then Jan Vertonghen thought that Kylian Mbappé was filming. – We saw a bit of the same thing with Jude Bellingham yesterday, those guys have feelings and allow themselves to be provoked, says Torp. Belgium-Domenico Tedesco was asked at the press conference after the match what he thought of Mbappé’s celebration. He only answered briefly: – I didn’t see it. Jan Vertonghen was a disappointed man after the match. Here with Kevin De Bruyne. Photo: Bernadett Szabo / Reuters Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen also had to endure criticism from Gary Neville in the ITV Sport studio after the match. He believes that Vertonghen should have been more involved in the situation that led to the own goal. – I think Vertonghen will be very disappointed, not only because it was credited as an own goal, says Neville and continues: – It is a big mistake and he will be devastated, he continues. It was EC’s ninth own goal in this year’s European Championship. Hasn’t scored even in open play Mbappé and his teammates could finally cheer for a quarter-final ticket. But it is obvious that the French stars are struggling to find the back of the net. In four European Championship games, they still haven’t scored even in open play. They have scored two own goals and one penalty kick. Nevertheless, news’s commentator believes that France was the best team. – France was evenly above the best team. They created the most chances and deservedly progressed to the quarter-finals. I’m not sure if the critics are really happy with what they saw, but the quarter-final place is secured, says Andreas Stabrun Smith. In the quarter-finals, France will face the winner of Slovenia and Portugal. It will be decided later on Monday evening. news’s football expert Åge Hareide thinks that France’s star player Kylian Mbappé was not quite himself. – Mbappé is with a mask greatly reduced. In any case, he is an unsettling moment, says Hareide. The contrasts were great when France avoided extra time by scoring just before the end. Photo: Hassan Ammar / AP Watching in 3D At a press conference, France coach Didier Deschamps also confirms to news that the team’s big star is struggling with the mask he has to play with. – Based on what he says, he sees images in 3D, 3D is nice, but you can get a few tens of milliseconds of delay. Probably it can be compared to wearing a VR headset. Deschamps believes that Mbappé is getting more and more used to the mask, but he sees some challenges. – You have the sweat aspect, sweat can get into the eyes. Even if it is something that can be wiped away, he has to get used to it. Maybe there’s something to do with the vision, I don’t know, because I haven’t tried it myself, continues Deschamps. Jan Vertonghen was a disappointed man after the match. Here with Kevin De Bruyne. Photo: Bernadett Szabo / Reuters Defensive entry It was an even opening in which neither team took hold of the game. – It is clear that there are two teams here who respect each other, says Torp. Because there were two teams that did not throw many players into attack. – When both teams play like that, it is often an individual performance or a management that decides. It’s very annoying, and it happened today, says Belgium’s goalkeeper Koen Casteels. After half an hour, Belgium were awarded a free kick in the corner of the penalty area, which Kevin De Bruyne smashed into the goal. The ball comes straight at the France goalkeeper, who was very surprised in the goal. He barely kicks the ball away from the goal. Mike Maignan in France’s goal had to scramble a bit to get the ball away from Kevin de Bruyne’s free kick in the first half. Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP Nevertheless, it was France who on several occasions came closest to the goal towards the end of the first half. For France, they played forward in the field and right-back Jules Koundé hit a precise cross in front of goal. Marcus Thuram was waiting there, who could rise into the air all by himself, but his hard-hitting header went just wide of Belgium’s goal. – A real class attack by France, it can be done so easily when the precision is in place, said news’s commentator Andreas Stabrun Smith. Missing chances It was France who tightened their grip in the second half, but Belgium were not harmless on counterattacks. – I received a good pass from Jeremy, I think I hit it well, but the goalkeeper saved it well, says De Bruyne. Because it was in Belgium’s half that most of the play took place, and France came close several times. Center back William Saliba was probably the closest after 70 minutes. France stood up after a set piece, but when Saliba got the chance, the finish went just wide. After 82 minutes, Belgium got their chance, and suddenly a hot, unpressurized Kevin De Bruyne was 10 meters away. De Bruyne tried to reach the far corner, but Maignan made a masterful save. The cheers were loud after the goal. Photo: OZAN KOSE / AFP Published 01.07.2024, at 19.50 Updated 01.07.2024, at 22.11
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France to the quarter-finals without a game goal – European Football Championship 2024
